Suprised and disappointed
Friday, February 13, 2009 by garsgolfer | Discussion: Skinning
I was a paying member of Stardock (Object Desktop) for many years, but recently decided not to renew my membership because it's value dwindled providing next to nothing. I can almost appreciate someone wanting to be paid for the windowblind if it's a completed high quality product; but to see Stardock charging for Stardock windowblinds in this economic climate is disappointing. I guess Stardock is applying that old adage, you get want you pay for some those they provided free were never really finished professionally.
Stardock and Wincustomize products should never be construed as fixed annual expenses to users, but that's appears to be the hope of Stardock, and a other similar vendors online. Sadly, there's a segment of society that's grown up thinking 19.95 for this subscription, 39.95 for that one is a way of life. Well, its that mentality that suddenly realizes there's nothing in the bank to pay your fixed bills with.
Reply #2 Friday, February 13, 2009 8:08 PM
Windowblinds is like Word. It lets you see something that someone else created. What is created is out of Stardock's control.
Saying that you are not seeing skins you want to apply and not buying the tool that applies them makes sense. Blaming SD for skins that don't appeal to you seems . .odd.
I hope some day in the future you see something you like and come back. Stardock, Wincustomize, and individual artists have a lot to offer.
Reply #3 Friday, February 13, 2009 8:10 PM
TitanI9- You are referring to Master Skins (A skinner of that rank can make and sell skins) - Stardock doesn't sell them. The Master skinner does. Are you referring to MyColors?
And by the way, Bebi Bulma is also 100% correct and so is Zubaz. Windowblinds is a program that changes the Windows GUI...and applies skins that people make because they love doing it...
Reply #4 Friday, February 13, 2009 8:18 PM
You can almost appreciate it? ![]()
Should we come and cook for you too? Perhaps some nightschooling at the beauty academy so skinners can come and give u a pedicure while you customize ? would that be enough ?
![]()
Reply #5 Friday, February 13, 2009 8:36 PM
*I* would like a pedicure. (It's like toe-skinning)
Please be here around 1PM.
thanks!
Reply #6 Friday, February 13, 2009 8:41 PM
here's a similar post from a couple years ago.........
Reply #7 Friday, February 13, 2009 9:04 PM
i'll have a pedicure too, but do i get a discount for only having one foot?..... if so i am free between 3 and 4 pm ![]()
Reply #9 Friday, February 13, 2009 10:07 PM
I don't think Object Desktop's value has dwindled. In fact, I think it's value has increased, since renewal is now for two years rather than one, but the price is the same. I really don't know what you're talking about when you say " I can almost appreciate someone wanting to be paid for the windowblind if it's a completed high quality product; but to see Stardock charging for Stardock windowblinds in this economic climate is disappointing."
Windowblinds is continually being upgraded. Every new release brings cooler options, and more control over personal application of a windowblind. I've notice this, and I've only had Object Desktop for a little over a year.
If what you mean by your comment is the fact that Stardock has been releasing portions of premium skins (i.e., Camouflage Windowblind, which is part of a MyColors Premium Theme for priced at $4.95, and the IconPackager just recently by the same name, for $4.95), I think that's a brilliant business move, and totally catering to the customer. A premium $20 MyColors theme can now be purchased in portions for those whose purchasing power has shrunk due to the economy -- so for someone who would like to purchase said them from MyColors, but doesn't have $20 for the full theme, can perhaps scrape up enough for just the Windowblind, and find some other free Iconpackager to put together with it. I think that shows how far Stardock is willing to go to be flexible when it comes to it's customer base.
I think the hope of Stardock isn't that their products be construed as fixed annual expenses to users, but that it retains as many of its prior customers as it can, being flexible with those who are struggling, and still turn a profit, which is the whole point to being in business. I'm a dreamer, and I would love to see/live in a society where we all "found our place in the world" doing what we love, making enough from doing what we love to fulfill our daily needs and a little bit left over to do something for others, but that world is not reality. Business is still business, and I think Stardock is going out of its way to hold on to its customer base and keep the lights on and payroll intact.
Then again...I AM a Stardock addict. If you aren't, well...you aren't going to find a lot of people here to agree with you.
Reply #10 Friday, February 13, 2009 10:35 PM
Moved out of the support forum to General Discussion.
Reply #11 Friday, February 13, 2009 10:46 PM
sorry to break it to y'all... I'm not goin to beauty school... guess I'm... a ... Beauty school... dropout?
![]()
Besides, I'm beautiful enough already.. ![]()
Reply #12 Friday, February 13, 2009 10:55 PM
i guess all Scots are comedians. ![]()
anyway, i once entered a nail salon and asked if i could get a 40% discount since i have but 6 fingernails. the elderly korean gentleman who owned the place chased me out while calling me every name in the book. well, i think he was. he was speaking in korean but i know he wasn't fond of my attempted joke.
Reply #13 Friday, February 13, 2009 11:04 PM
yup, and we all plan to conquer the world with our devious plan to charge for skins but craftily leave one image out of the entire skin,
thereby ripping off the end user and laughing our way to our
private islands with steamer trunks full of easily earned sacks of cash!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! !!!
![]()
Reply #14 Friday, February 13, 2009 11:33 PM
that's good....means you're almost there..... 
There will always be these posts for as long as people have little to no comprehension of what goes into making a windowblind....whether it's a nooby skin with a lot of hours and blood, sweat & tears put into them....or up to a masterskin....with years of dedication, finely honing their skills to provide the cream of the crop, they are all time consuming....and masterskins, well-made, are particularly time consuming. Some incorporate a finesse and fastidiousness and a striving for perfection that is nigh on beyond reason... I am particularly thinking of vStyler & IRBraniac when I say that...
There are many wonderful free skins...so it comes down to choice as to whether you wish to purchase one of these top echelon of skins or happily use the many fine skins that are free.
But......if you don't 'support your local skinner'....then you will find them a dying breed......and all that expertise and artistry is lost.....and we....are the biggest losers...all for what...the price of a cup of coffee....which I find embarrassing...now knowing what goes into them...
.....There have been individual masterskins I have purchased 2 & 3 times...and one..5 times...(Aust dollars I might add) and still felt embarrassed...and it makes me cringe to constantly read people whinging and whining about it...
One observation I would make in regards to masterskins...is that they all should have a detailed preview picture of what exactly is contained within the skin....and the standard for this should be vStyler's previews....and it should be mandatory for all masterskins...Stardock or otherwise...
Reply #15 Friday, February 13, 2009 11:44 PM
private islands with steamer trunks full of easily earned sacks of cash!
OMG! I didn't know scots wore socks! ![]()
Reply #16 Friday, February 13, 2009 11:54 PM
I try to be understanding about the whining. Whining (passive aggression), is a sign of frustration. All things are relative. People are frustrated with their finances. Things are tough. Some people can't afford a cup of coffee. (I can still afford to make it for myself at home, but can't afford it out). It's kind of a torture to see something in its glory and know you'll never have it, especially when those who DO have it are bubbling over in their satisfaction of who fantastic that thing is. You look around and think "THEY have that thing...why don't I deserve it, too?" -- it can lead to feelings of inadequacy, and self loathing.
It's one of the reasons I quit watching television. I couldn't figure out why everybody on TV had nice houses, nice cars, nice clothing, even though the people on the programs had jobs that were equivalent to mine, but all my "stuff" was lower class. I KNOW TV is just fantasy, but I don't see a lot of "real" people's houses, and most of the cars I see on the road here are pretty darn decent. I don't know how they make their finances work...I just don't understand it. As much as I puzzle over these things, I know there is someone in a worse shape than I am, wondering how I'm managing to have what I have.
Reply #17 Saturday, February 14, 2009 12:02 AM
..... Enter Obama
The saviour of Generation E !
Reply #18 Saturday, February 14, 2009 12:16 AM
I hear what you're saying karen....but this subject has long been whined about...long before this economic downturn...which has hit many very hard....I can't affort a 50" lcd tv...but I don't feel the need to whine about it...and I do find in life generally...it is sometimes the people who DO have the money....who whine the most...probably why they have the money... 
I'm sure the skinners themselves, find it very frustrating to work their arses off and proudly produce a supreme work of art that they know will not be able to be experienced by all....but it's the nature of the beast...they have to eat too...
Reply #19 Saturday, February 14, 2009 12:38 AM
..... Enter Obama The saviour of Generation E !
You have to qualify that John. Enter Obama, the assumed savior of Generation E. Realistically, the man can't deliver. He's still dependent on congress and the supreme court in order to work his alchemy. It's not going to happen. In order for Obama to deliver on his promises, the South would have had to won the Civil War, and the country split in two. Because the South lost, we have half a nation pulling in one direction, and the other half of a nation pulling in the other direction -- I don't care what anybody says about bipartisanism...it's not going to happen.
The struggle between Us and Them will continue until somebody blows the planet up.
I agree.
Reply #20 Saturday, February 14, 2009 12:46 AM
Why, he\they felt no need to qualify the 800 BILLION dollars in debt he just passed on to my kids. ![]()
Change we can believe in ! ![]()
Generation E, have no fear... Pelosi, Reid and Obama.. are here ! ![]()
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Reply #1 Friday, February 13, 2009 7:51 PM
Huh? Are you complaining about the master skins? Because your argument makes *no* sense...you complain about the economy being bad and having a hard time paying bills, but at the same time you expect people to put hours of tireless effort into a theme and *not* be compensated for it? Bit of hypocrisy there, "I'm low on cash...I should get this stuff for free, you don't need to be compensated for your hard work."
edit: forgot a word, ha.